Verdict

The 17mm f4 DG DN is a valuable and fun addition to Sigma’s Contemporary I series of compact and affordable full-frame lenses. Here’s an affordable ultra-wide lens that’s small and light, but well-built with fast focusing and sharp results corner to corner. Ideal for expansive landscapes, large buildings or tight interiors.

The icing on the cake is an impressively close minimum focusing distance of just 12cm, allowing you to capture dramatic images combining macro details with expansive ultra-wide backgrounds, and in some cases with surprisingly shallow depth of field effects.

The wide coverage is also perfect for handheld vlogging and gives you plenty of latitude for accommodating the crops of enhanced stabilisation modes.

Sure the f4 aperture isn’t particularly bright, but there’s little if anything to really complain about for the money, and surprisingly few rival prime lenses around this length and price. Samyang’s older 18mm f2.8 may be an even cheaper option for Sony owners, but the Sigma comfortably out-performs it and I’d say is worth spending the extra on. Meanwhile L-mount owners have Panasonic’s Lumix S 18mm f1.8 to consider, but while it’s over two stops brighter, it’s larger, heavier and about 50% more expensive.

Overall the Sigma 17mm f4 DG DN is a useful, capable and fun lens that provides a taste of the exotic without breaking the bank or your back. I really enjoyed shooting with it and it comes Highly Recommended!